Yesterday, I worshipped with my family in the church where I grew up. As the service began my mind pondered over all of the experiences that had taken place over the years in that very room. If I let myself, I could almost hear my mom playing the piano or get a glimpse of her leading the orchestra…..I could picture my dad at the microphone praying or serving the Lord’s Supper. I remembered children’s choir songs and youth reports…..learning to give testimony to what God was teaching me….playing my horn...and worshipping. I recounted times of grief with funerals and times of celebration with weddings. I remembered pouring my heart out to God in this room in times of trial. I recalled sharing my call to missions with this church family and asking them to pray. But most importantly, I remembered an August day when Bro. Don was talking to our VBS group about how Jesus was more than a historical figure. He was more than someone we talked about and sang about all the time. He wanted to be my Lord, my Savior, and my best friend forever. And I remembered that day was when I took the most amazing jump straight into my savior’s arms and began a journey that has brought victory. Much has changed throughout the years, but the salvation and victory I have found in Jesus has not.
The worship pastor introduced the song in this way, “I think you are going to want to stand up for this next song. So when you are ready, stand…” The familiar words rang out...
I heard an old, old story,
How a Savior came from glory,
How He gave His life on Calvary
To save a wretch like me;
I heard about His groaning,
Of His precious blood's atoning,
Then I repented of my sins
And won the victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood
I heard about His healing,
Of His cleansing pow'r revealing.
How He made the lame to walk again
And caused the blind to see;
And then I cried, "Dear Jesus,
Come and heal my broken spirit,"
And somehow Jesus came and bro't
To me the victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
I heard about a mansion
He has built for me in glory.
And I heard about the streets of gold
Beyond the crystal sea;
About the angels singing,
And the old redemption story,
And some sweet day I'll sing up there
The song of victory.
Chorus
O victory in Jesus,
My Savior, forever.
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood;
He loved me ere I knew Him
And all my love is due Him,
He plunged me to victory,
Beneath the cleansing flood.
-Eugene Monroe Bartlett (1939)
This hymn was written by Eugene Monroe Bartlett in 1939. Though he composed many pieces of music throughout his life, this song was particularly significant. He wrote it during his last two years of life after enduring a stroke that left him bedridden. It is a testimony that our victory does not come in our circumstances but in our faith in Jesus Christ alone.
When was the last time recognizing the victory in Jesus has made you stand to your feet? Arise, my brothers and sisters, and join with me as we celebrate our Savior, Lord, and King and the victory that only He can bring!
